Man, 43, gets 15 years for stealing cigarettes

A 43-year-old man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for helping rob four delivery truck drivers of cigarettes in the city in July and August of last year, federal prosecutors said.

Clyde Ringgold of Baltimore will also serve three years of supervised probation once he is released.

Two other men, Keith Debnam, 42, and Michael Goodwyn, 40, both of Baltimore, have pleaded guilty and face sentencing hearings next month. Debnam admitted to being involved in six robberies, and Goodwyn admitted his involvement in four, federal prosecutors said.

Ringgold pleaded guilty to robbing delivery trucks July 28 and on Aug. 1, 7 and 8 last year. Debnam pleaded guilty to those four robberies and ones on July 25 and Aug. 4, 2006. Goodwyn pleaded guilty to the robberies on July 25 and 28, and Aug. 7 and 8, 2006.

Federal prosecutors said that in all six robberies, 6,567 cigarette cartons - worth about $24,500 - were taken. In one holdup, authorities said, a case of Danish pastries was taken.

Prosecutors said that in each case, the robbers threatened drivers with a gun. They were arrested Aug. 8, 2006, after one of the victims gave a description of a getaway car to police.